News Releases
March 4, 2010
KEY POINTS
- Joint Venture acquires known mineralized breccia pipe, and second breccia pipe target, both outside Department of Interior withdrawal area boundary
- No up-front cost
- VTEM geophysical exploration techniques applied and verified for breccia pipe exploration
- Three new breccia pipe targets located with further exploration planned
Energy Fuels Inc. (TSX-EFR) (“Energy Fuels” or the “Company“), and Royal Resources Limited (ASX-ROY) (“Royal”), its joint venture partner, are pleased to announce that Arizona Strip Partners LLC (“ASP”) joint venture, formed in May of 2008 by the companies, has succeeded in acquiring two breccia pipe properties in Coconino County, Arizona from Neutron Energy, Inc. (“Neutron”). Historical uranium production from the Arizona Strip was at an average grade of 0.65% U3O8 or 13 lbs. per ton, which is the motivation for ASP’s interest in the region.
This property acquisition includes all available data including geophysical logs and lithologs, from Neutron. These two properties are both in near proximity to drilled out ore bearing pipes, and one of these properties is a geologically confirmed mineralized breccia pipe. ASP acquired the properties with no up-front costs. Neutron will retain a 2% NSR royalty on any production. If an ore body is drilled out, and upon completion of a feasibility study conducted by ASP, Neutron has a one time option to elect to participate in that project at a 30% working interest, by surrendering its royalty and paying to ASP a 150% reimbursement of 30% of ASP’s costs, incurred to the point of completion of the feasibility study.
The two properties, known as the “Cyclone Target” and the “Horsey Target” are Mineral Exploration Permits acquired by Neutron through the Arizona State Lands Department and not regulated by either the Bureau of Land Management or the US Forest Service. The properties are located south of the Grand Canyon and both are outside the boundary of the US Department of Interior’s withdrawal area, currently undergoing a two year environmental impact study. Each Mineral Exploration Permit is good for 5 years and, should a minable discovery be made, can be converted to an Arizona State Mining Lease, subject to a production royalty.
Cyclone Target-
This is a confirmed mineralized breccia pipe. Rocky Mountain Energy drilled two shallow holes and seven deep holes in 1990 that confirmed mineralization. Neutron drilled four deep holes in 2008 and mineralization from 0.01% U3O8e up to 0.076% U3O8e was encountered in each of the Neutron drill holes. Further exploration will be needed to fully develop this target, and because of the target being State of Arizona lands, and outside of the withdrawal area, ASP is confident that this exploration can be successfully undertaken.
Horsey Target-
This target consists of 87.67 acres. There has been no drilling done however a track-etch survey was completed on the target. The Horsey target exhibits good surficial characteristics of a potential pipe and a good surface collapse structure was observed by ASP field examination. Additionally, ASP reports exploration success applying Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic (“VTEM”) geophysical survey techniques to search for breccia pipes on the Arizona Strip. VTEM is a geophysical technique that provides the depth and resolution believed necessary to conduct breccia pipe exploration. During November 2008, GeoTech Ltd. of Ontario, Canada flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey for ASP covering 15 survey blocks on the Arizona Strip, for a total of 538 line-kilometers. Data was processed and modeled by Australian firm Montana GIS. Several major findings from the VTEM work include:
- A strong anomalous VTEM signature exhibited over five known undeveloped breccia pipes, both horizontally and vertically, proves to ASP that VTEM geophysical surveys can be used successfully to discover new breccia pipes.
- The anomalous signature exhibited over five known breccia pipes varies dramatically from pipe to pipe due to variation in geological settings and in the size and extent of the collapse.
- High resolution data analysis has been completed on seven of the 15 blocks surveyed. Processing and modeling of the eight remaining survey blocks is progressing.
- Based on the interpretation of those seven blocks, ASP has successfully identified three new breccia pipe targets on properties controlled by ASP, all of which are located outside of the DOI withdrawal area.
- ASP intends to conduct additional exploration on the three targets identified. The more detailed data collected from those exploration efforts will be analyzed to further understand and better apply the application of VTEM geophysical survey data regionally.
Stephen P. Antony, P.E., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the content of this press release.
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Energy Fuels Inc. is a uranium and vanadium mineral development company actively rehabilitating and developing formerly producing mines. With more than 44,000 acres of highly prospective uranium and vanadium property located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, and New Mexico, and exploration properties in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin totaling approximately 40,000 additional acres, the Company has a full pipeline of additional development prospects. Energy Fuels, through its wholly-owned Colorado subsidiary, Energy Fuels Resources Corporation and its British Columbia subsidiary, Magnum Uranium Corp., has assembled this property portfolio along with a first class management team, including highly skilled techn*-ical mining and milling professionals based in Lakewood and Nucla, Colorado and Kanab, Utah.
This news release contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and “Forward Looking Information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are disclosed in the Company’s documents filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Securities Commissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Energy Fuels Inc.
Gary Steele
Investor Relations
(303) 974-2147
Toll free: 1-888-864-2125
Email: investorinfo@energyfuels.com
Website: www.energyfuels.com